Editorial: New Year a time of reflection, resolution

The door has closed on one year and opened on another; many Americans are entering 2014 with more than a little trepidation.

Some of that anxiety is well-founded. After all, they are facing higher taxes, less disposable income, fewer employment opportunities, staggering national and personal debt and an amazing amount of empty political rhetoric.

Americans, however, still possess an amazing amount of resilience, a can-do spirit and faith that can move mountains. Considering the general lack of common sense displayed by too many holding public office, itís going to require such traits and a tremendous effort to see reason prevail.

While the president, Congress and even the U.S. Supreme Court somehow pretend that the Affordable Care Act is good for the country, the people for whom they work and who will pick up the tab have figured it out and they are not amused.

With NSA surveillance, new regulations (laws) issuing from every office, agency and department of government there will be much work to be done in the new year to keep government from micromanaging and controlling every aspect of Americanís private lives.

On New Yearís Day, however, most people will take a moment to mark the passage of time and reflect on what has happened and perhaps on their expectations and wishes for the future.

As 2013 fades and 2014 dawns, even the biggest headlines of 2013 are now yesterdayís stories. To be sure they will remain significant plot lines in 2014, but some of the characters, dialogue and background are sure to change.

Still, the continuum of time today gives us an opportunity to clean house, as it were, to turn our eyes to the future. We can stop wallowing in regrets over goals not attained or projects not finished. Today is a day of renewal, a day to commit ourselves to achieving new goals for the coming year.

We can choose at any time to start a diet, fix that which is broken or focus harder on our goals.

In this new year, we can vow to march into the future filled with a new resolve and a new hope that this time we will see our plans through and attain our goals.

We sincerely hope that this annual rebirth of spirit inspires every single person to set productive goals, and we wish everyone success in achieving them.

Welcome 2014 and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014.